Advent Wreath

We spent a lovely warm day collecting greens, herbs and berries for our yearly Advent Wreath. Tonight, we will light our first candle and add some shells, rocks or crystals for Mineral.

I have a lovely verse for each week and we also read the "Tiptoes Lightly Festivals" book which mirrors the weekly advent thoughts.

This seems to be the official start to a myriad of holiday celebrations over the next few weeks.. Peace

Molasses Cookies

Wonderful recipe you could use throughout the holidays! Very easy and fun for the kids..

Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (I used 1/2 brown sugar 1/2 regular)

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cloves, ginger, salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Combine butter, sugar, egg and molasses in a large bowl.

Combine flour, baking soda, & spices in medium bowl.

Mix together until well combines. **Put in fridge for at least

an hour until hardened.

Scoop into 1' balls and press down slightly on cookie sheet.

Bake 6-8 minutes at 375.

Handmade gifts? check this out!

I absolutely LOVE this blog. Every year in November, they have a new "theme" for each day with gifts to make!! It is awesome..I always say I need to start in August-LOL! They also include a daily recipe.. I am going to try the Pie in a Jar (Nov. 1)

They have given me some great ideas and I have even made a few projects in the past..

Check it out.. Handmade Holidays by sewmamasew

First Breakfast!

Last weekend, my twins, 7 announced that our breakfast was ready, while DH & I were still in bed!

To my sheer delight, they made us hot tea and cheesy scrambled eggs and flat bread toast, all very edible and even tasty! I guess all those mornings helping has paid off.. :)

Thanksgiving Mums

Every year at this time, as the garden winds down, I have a few late bloomers to keep me

smiling! These Thanksgiving mums dependably bloom every year in November.

This is a double-flowering coneflower! I trimmed it back and got a surprise re-bloom

This orange beauty is some kind of salvia. The hummers love it!

I have had this plant 2 years and no blooms, as it just started last week and last year we had an early frost. It is called a Senna Plant- amazing!

The Lantern Walk

We read stories about Saint Martin and sang Lantern songs all day long..

The Lantern Walk is such a magical part of journey to the holidays.. the girls look so forward
to this each year and this one was especially so, since they are coming of age to really understand Saint Martin's story.

We used our watercolor painting for lanterns and they finger knitted the handles. Pattern from Earthways.

We used Jodie Meslers's Martinmas songs from her blog.
It was a brisk, windy night, and somehow I feel it is the decent into the winter season.
A warm cappuccino and some knitting will top off the night. *wink*

Caramel Apples

Every year we make these wonderful delights.. I found a "healthy" recipe (as healthy as can be in this case!) At least it has all natural ingredients...

Watch that caramel, as it can burn little fingers and it is HOT!

Favorite Caramel Apples

1 cup finely chopped peanuts

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup corn syrup (I substituted 1 cup white sugar mixed with 1/3 cup water & 1/8 tsp cream of tartar)

1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Dash of salt

1 tsp vanilla

10 tart apples washed, dried and stuck with wooden craft sticks

Melt butter in 2-quart saucepan; add brown sugar, corn syrup (or sub)and salt.

Cook over med heat, stirring occasionally until mixture comes to a full boil (10 min)

Stir in condensed milk. Continue cooking, occasionally stirring until candy therm says 245

or a small amount dropped into ice water forms a firm ball ( 20-25 min)

Remove from heat, add vanilla

Dip apples into caramel mixture. Dip 1 end into peanuts (use a cookie sheet or shallow bowl)

Place onto buttered wax paper and let set.

Teaching to the Temperaments- workshop

Tonight is the first in our series of Waldorf Homeschool workshops.

Join me as I host Kristie Burns for 60 minutes of tips, ideas and techniques on how to teach
to your child's temperament..

Starts at 8pm EST/5 PST. Register on the right side of my blog- pass this on!!!

48hr free-replay

Purchase download at http://thewaldorfconnection.com/